Pussy Riot – the story so far

For the past few weeks, the world has followed the plight of Russian punk band Pussy Riot, who have been on trial in Moscow. Click through for the full story, in pictures.

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The group is known for performing guerrila gigs to spread their radical feminist views and its opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here, they rehearse in Moscow on February 17 2012.

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On February 21 2012, Pussy Riot entered Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral and performed a song named 'Madonna, Drive Putin Away'. They later said their performance was intended to highlight the close relationship between the church and state.

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Two alleged members of the masked group, Maria Alyokhina (pictured) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, were arrested on March 3, the day before Russia's presidential election.

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March sees protests, appeals and the arrest of third alleged Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich. Pictured here on April 19, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova stands in a defender's cage prior to hearings in the court room in Moscow. A judge rejects their appeal for bail.

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Pressure to release the band builds in Russia and abroad, and the band are reported to have gone on hunger strike in early June. The band remain incarcerated, and the trial begins on July 30.

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As the trial continues, with journalists inside the courtroom Tweet about the bizarre proceedings within. Pussy Riot members, from left at the background, Here, Maria Alekhina (left), Yekaterina Samutsevich (right) smile as they're escorted to the courtroom on August 3.

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Madonna shows her support for the band at her August 7 concert at Olympic Hall in Moscow, Russia, telling the crowd "I pray for their freedom". Pete Townshend and Franz Ferdinand are among the other artists backing Pussy Riot.

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Nadezhda Tolokonnikova greets her supporters as she is escorted to court for the trial's final day, August 8. With the prosecution calling for a three year prison sentence, a verdict is set for 17 August.

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Members of German party The Greens demonstrate in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin on August 9.

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In Kiev, a member of the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN stands at the base of a fallen in protest against the trial of Pussy Riot.

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Yekaterina Samutsevich, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina are escorted to a court in Moscow to receive the verdict.

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Before the verdict is announced, a demonstration of solidarity for Pussy Riot is held in Hamburg, Germany. The demonstrators wear the band's now-familiar uniform: a balaclava.

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Sitting in a glass cage in the courtroom, the trio receive the verdict. They're found guilty of hooliganism and sentenced to two years in a prison colony. Hundreds of protesters, including former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, crowd the street outside the court.

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A protester is arrested during a demonstration in front of the Russian consulate in New York.

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Closer to home, demonstrators take part in a protest in O'Connell Street, Dublin, against the conviction of Pussy Riot.

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Colin Kelly of punk band Job Seekers joins the protest in O'Connell Street, Dublin, sharing the message: "Punk rock is not a crime".

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Having already been in jail for about five months, the three Pussy Riot members tried will serve another 19 months each. They could be freed if Putin were to pardon them.